Kawonu Golf Club unveils Greenville clubhouse plans

Kawonu Golf Club, a private golf-only club under construction near Greenville, has unveiled the first renderings of its clubhouse complex.

Designed by architect Joel Newman, the facilities represent another milestone in the development of the club and offer members and prospective members a glimpse into the gathering spaces planned for the property.

“From the beginning, our goal has been to create a club that feels authentic to the land and true to the traditions of the game,” Scott Ferrell, founding partner of Kawonu Golf Club, said in a news release. “While the golf course will always be at the heart of Kawonu, these facilities are an important part of the overall experience. Joel has designed spaces that feel timeless, welcoming and perfectly suited to the character of the property.”

The clubhouse complex will be anchored by a dedicated golf house positioned behind the practice area. The approximately 5,000-square-foot facility will include a golf shop, indoor teaching bays, a halfway house, golf fitness space and an outdoor patio overlooking the practice facilities.

Connected by a breezeway, the 9,500-square-foot main clubhouse will overlook the 18th green and the surrounding landscape, and will include locker rooms, indoor and outdoor dining spaces, a private dining room, and seven individual overnight rooms on the lower level, the news release said. Together, the two structures are designed to offer a cohesive, purposeful arrival and fitting finish to a round of golf.

Among the additional amenities planned for the property is Tuck’s Cabin, a fishing cabin overlooking a 10-acre lake at the center of the front nine. The cabin is named in honor of Barton Tuck, who brings decades of real estate development experience to his role as founding partner at Kawonu Golf Club, and his son, Noel Tuck, who serves as the club’s development manager. The cabin will feature a fireplace, casual furnishings, an honor bar and fishing gear.

Kawonu partnered with Newman, whose work is widely recognized for its approach to club and hospitality design. Based in Beaufort, Newman is a partner at Thomas & Denzinger Architects and has designed facilities at Chechessee Creek Club, Spring Island Club and Ohoopee Match Club, as well as projects at Kiawah Island and Palmetto Bluff. At Kawonu, he is leading the design of the clubhouse, lodging accommodations, training center and golf course comfort stations.

“Every building on this property should feel like it belongs here — rooted in the land, not imposed upon it,” Newman said in the release. “What makes Kawonu exceptional is that the land itself tells you what to do. The rolling topography, the varied tree species, and the way light falls across the Reedy River corridor — all of it informs how we approach each structure. Our goal is to create spaces that are purposeful and unhurried, where the architecture draws you deeper into the golf experience rather than pulling you away.”

Construction on Tuck’s Cabin is projected to begin this year. Construction on the golf house is slated to begin in 2027, with the main clubhouse to follow.

Located on more than 290 acres of rolling meadows, hardwood forests and Reedy River frontage, Kawonu Golf Club is the first private golf-only club developed in the Upstate in more than 30 years, according to the developers. The club’s Andrew Green-designed championship golf course is under construction, with grassing underway, and is expected to open in spring 2027.